Due to conflict and tension in West Asia and rumours of cooking gas cylinder shortage, there has been a sharp increase in demand for induction stoves as well as microwave ovens and air-fryers in all department stores and showrooms of kitchen appliances in past four days. On one hand low-income households prefer induction stoves while middle and upper middle class families prefer microwave ovens and air-fryers. Due to conflict in between USA-Israel and Iran from last sixteen days, gas supply from Qatar and other middle-east countries have interrupted in last few days.

 

The Government claimed that there is sufficient arrangement or stocks of cooking gas cylinders in Raipur as well as other parts of State, but still a large section of people are believing the rumours and as an alternative option, they are purchasing induction stoves, microwave ovens and air-fryers. Due to demand of these electrical appliances in both online and offline, the suppliers have raised the prices up to 10 percent in last two days and now Rs 1,800 induction stove is available at Rs 2,000 in market and in air-fryers, the price has shot up from Rs 4,500 to Rs 5,500. In microwave oven, prices have seen a rise of 10 per cent in these two months.

 

But Dr Samit Sen, Electrical Engineer said in low-income families, many of the households actually lacked load bearing capacity in the kitchen. Most of the households had no 5 ampere plugs. Similarly, many of these households had only one 15 ampere plug and some of the households did not have any 15 to 20 ampere plug which is actually the essential part of the electric cooking appliances. In middle-income, due to hot temperature, the consumption of water cooler, air conditioner and water motor will be increased and with single-face electricity, operation of these electric appliances will prove risky and would cause any kind of fire mishap. Meanwhile, without thinking of these consequences, majority of the people are purchasing these electric appliances and some of the store owners informed that many of induction stoves are now out of stock.